Ukraine war: G20 leaders call for upholding territorial integrity, sovereignty of nations

India championed the G20 Summit as the world leaders reached a consensus over the language used for the Russia-Ukraine war in the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration.The full text of the Delhi Declaration, which was shared by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), called upon upholding "the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty" of states. However it refrained from making any critical mentionofRussia. Ukraine, however, was mentioned a total of four times in the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration adopted and released in the second session of the G20 Summit on Day 1.

The 2022 Bali G20 Summit in Indonesia, was also dominated by the Russia-Ukraine war however there is a stark contrast between the then declaration and at the summit under India's presidency.

The G20 Leaders’ Declaration which was adopted at the Bali summit in Bali had rebuked Russia as an aggressor.

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The Bali Declaration condemned "in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and demands its complete and unconditional withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine”.

“Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and stressed it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy — constraining growth, increasing inflation, disrupting supply chains, heightening energy and food insecurity, and elevating financial stability risks. There were other views and different assessments of the situation and sanctions. Recognising that the G20 is not the forum to resolve security issues, we acknowledge that security issues can have significant consequences for the global economy," the Bali text read.

However, India was able to carve out a consensus at the G20 Summit and was able to work out a language that did not condemn Russia in a straightforward manner yet roped in everyone to agree to the declaration on the issue that was anticipated to be a big roadblock earlier.

The Delhi Declaration mentions that the G20 forum notes with “deep concern the immense human suffering and the adverse impact of wars and conflicts around the world”.

"We call on all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability. The peaceful resolution of conflicts and efforts to address crises as well as diplomacy and dialogue are critical. We will unite in our endeavour to address the adverse impact of the war on the global economy and welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine that will uphold all the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter for the promotion of peaceful, friendly, and good neighbourly relations among nations in the spirit of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’," mentions the Delhi Declaration shared after Indian PM announced its adoption.

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"Concerning the war in Ukraine, while recalling the discussion in Bali, we reiterated our national positions and resolutions adopted at the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly (A/RES/ES-11/1 and A/RES/ES-11/6) and underscored that all states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety."

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Through the Delhi Declaration, G20 leaders also termed the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons "inadmissible".

"In line with the UN Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state. The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible," the statement added.

Earlier, there were challenges as world leaders, especially China, Russia, and the US, had disagreements on the language of the text related to the Ukraine war at G20 ministerial meetings in India. However, with the commencement of the G20 Leaders' Summit on September 9, India was able to persuade all the leaders reaching a common ground.

"We appreciate the efforts of Turkiye and UN-brokered Istanbul Agreements consisting of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the Secretariat of the United Nations on Promoting Russian Food Products and Fertilizers to the World Markets and the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports (Black Sea Initiative), and call for their full, timely and effective implementation to ensure the immediate and unimpeded deliveries of grain, foodstuffs, and fertilizers/inputs from the Russian Federation and Ukraine. This is necessary to meet the demand in developing and least developed countries, particularly those in Africa," the Delhi statement further read.

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